as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
even what seems to be a dream job usually turns out to have its fair share of rubs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction
the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to sand
to make smooth by friction
the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rub
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
Sauce and rub options are Ooowwweee sauce, lemon pepper, Ooowwweee heat, jerk chicken and boomerang (condiment blend).
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
To ensure full coverage, dot the pea-size amount around your whole face, then rub into skin until it’s fully absorbed.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rub
Noun
After sitting for a few minutes, the original color rubs or peels away to reveal a natural-looking rosy stain.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
Sauce and rub options are Ooowwweee sauce, lemon pepper, Ooowwweee heat, jerk chicken and boomerang (condiment blend).
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
To overturn them, the next president needs only to rub the same genie’s lamp.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
To ensure full coverage, dot the pea-size amount around your whole face, then rub into skin until it’s fully absorbed.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rub
Noun
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Psyduck, one of the main Pokémon used by Misty in the series, was a water-type who could use powerful psychic moves, but the timing and effectiveness of its abilities was disrupted by its constant headaches.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
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On the same day Amber Glenn won Olympic gold as part of the team event and stepped away from social media due to backlash over her comments on politics and the LGBTQ+ community, the American figure skater ended up with another headache.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cody Powers said that his mother wore State Farm sweatshirts and T-shirts and entered every promotion the company offered.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
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Complex magazine also reported that the number may have served as a tribute to the singer's late uncle, who wore 64 as a football player.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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City of Dallas has only eight snow plows The city of Dallas has only eight snow plows and about 100 sanding trucks for 11,700 lane miles of roads, forcing it to prioritize.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Feb. 2026
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By ignoring class as a factor in its characters’ lives, Bridgerton has often sanded away much of the underlying friction between them — and done the couples’ love stories a disservice in the process.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Set the scene Set on a leafy corner of Recoleta, close enough to the action but removed from the tourist hubbub, Sofitel is polished without being stuffy, the kind of place where everyone looks put-together even at breakfast.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
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Many are polished enough to appear legitimate at first glance.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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According to fashion reporter Jarrod Jenkins, who shared a video of the event on his Instagram, Taylor said the theme of her previous Air Jordan 1 Zoom Cmft collaboration was centered around the rose, while the new Air Jordan 3 project hones in on the thorns.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Makeup removal can sometimes feel like a thorn in your side, especially when heavy, waterproof formulas are standing in the way.—
Tatayana Yomary,
Essence,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But that spending has also made the Dodgers and Major League Baseball the targets of growing criticism that money has begun to erode many smaller franchises’ ability to compete.—
Allan Smith,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
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His confession became a lightning rod for frustrations from workers who say AI is already eroding their livelihoods.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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What follows is not a quick montage of temporary setbacks, but a grinding legal odyssey through an all-too-familiar hell determined to make the already-struggling Amanda pay for someone else’s mistake.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
4 Feb. 2026
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After spending much of 2025 locked in a grinding consolidation, PEG has now broken above its bearish trendline, signaling a transition from defense to accumulation.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The initial collection will consist of a seamless or smoothing nylon bra, a seamless or shaping nylon brief, and a seamless or shaping nylon short.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Solar energy generation paired with four-hour storage can economically and reliably supply about 15% of system energy by smoothing daily ups and downs.—
Alex Pavlak,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rub. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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